Waverley

Waverley's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure.

The population passed 120,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Waverley increased by 5.1%, from almost 116,000 to 122,000.

The addition of about 5,900 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Waverley was home to, on average, 2.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Waverley

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Waverley increased by two years, from 40 to 42 years.

This affluent rural area had a higher average age than the South East and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,500 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.

About 12% of people in Waverley are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Waverley by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Waverley that rented privately increased from 8.1% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) households lived in social housing, compared with 13% in 2001. The percentage of Waverley households that owned their home decreased from 76% to 74%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Waverley increased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Waverley, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

Waverley saw the South East's third-largest rise in the proportion of self-employed people.

In 2011, just over one in seven (15%) people aged 16 to 74 in Waverley said they were self-employed, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage that were employed decreased from 53% to 52%.

Across the region, only Slough (from 6.2% to 8.9%) and Brighton and Hove (from 10% to 13%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of self-employed people.

Every local authority area across the South East saw a rise in the proportion of self-employed people, as the regional average grew from 9.5% to 11%.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Relationships in Waverley

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership increased in Waverley, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South East, except Wokingham and Hart.

Across the South East, the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in Guildford (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Waverley) increased from 33% to 35%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Waverley

The percentage of Waverley residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.0%, while the percentage of Waverley residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.8% to 7.4%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 91% in 2001 to 90% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Waverley residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.9% to 3.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (86%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 75% in 2001. The percentage of Waverley residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Waverley decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Waverley, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with children

The percentage of households with children increased in Waverley, while falling in East Hampshire (one of the most statistically similar areas to Waverley based on ONS area classifications).

In Waverley, the proportion went up from 28% in 2001 to 29% in 2011, while across England it fell from 31% to 29%. During the same period, the regional proportion remained close to 29%.

The proportion of households without children in Waverley fell from 63% to 62%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 9.0% to 8.6%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Waverley

The number of people in Waverley from the White ethnic groups increased from about 110,000 in 2001 to about 120,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 97% to 96%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Waverley from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 1,300 in 2001 to about 2,300 in 2011 (from 1.2% to 1.9%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 970 to about 1,600 (from 0.8% to 1.3%).

About 540 people (0.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 360 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Waverley decreased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Waverley by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work hours

The percentage of employed people in Waverley working less than 16 hours increased from 2.6% to 3.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under one in seven (14%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 16% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Waverley, which comprised a single parent, increased from 6.4% to 6.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (41%) households had a married couple, compared with 42% in 2001. The percentage of households in Waverley, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.2% to 8.2%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Waverley residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.7% to 0.9% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, 1.5% of reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Waverley remained close to 0.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Waverley by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links